An insider's view of the Connecticut dining scene

Aug 8, 2013

11:10 AM

Goodbye, Swanky Frank's—Hello, Little Barn

By Valerie Schroth

An architect's rendering of Little Barn.

If you’ve been on the Post Road in Westport lately, you’ve probably noticed that Swanky Frank’s is no more. Soon to take its place is Little Barn, a collaboration between successful restaurateurs Scott Beck and Kevin McHugh. Beck and McHugh go way back—they were founding partners of The Loft (1997) and Match (1999) in South Norwalk. Today, they have five restaurants between them: most recently The Chelsea in Fairfield. McHugh co-owns Spotted Horse in Westport and The Gray Goose in Fairfield. Beck is still a co-owner of Match and The Loft in Sono.

The scruffy little yellow building was Swanky Frank’s for years, and a Dairy Queen for decades before that. “We love the location, and it’s an iconic building,” says Beck. “We’re keeping the shape of the space and roofline but after that it’s being demo’d down to the studs.

“We’re basically turning the space into a barn, then building a pub inside it,” he says, adding that they’ll be using lots of reclaimed materials in the build-out.

Beck and McHugh are shooting for a Halloween opening. “It will be a very fun and casual place to eat and drink,” says Beck. “The menu will be pub fare/comfort food—with plenty of salads and healthy options—at a modest price point.”